Fire unit



Jan. 16, 1945. s. T. HOWA RD 2,367,216

. FIRE UNIT Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QWQW ig harm V Ja 16,1945- s. T. Howgun FIRE UNIT Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINENTOR. Jfq/esTf/o wrc/ /7 r ro/QNEY Jan. '16, 1945. s. T. HOWARD FIREUNIT 7 'Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIRE UNIT:5. 'T. HOWARD Filed April 24, 1941 Jam 6. 1945.

Patented Jan. 16, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I v 2,367,216 FIREUNIT 1 Styles Howard, Jefiersonville, Ind.

Application April 24, 1941, Serial No. 390,121

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928 3700. G. 757) 3 Claims.

.The invention described herein, if patented may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon,

This invention relates to an improved fire unit, and more particularlyto a self-contained heatproducing unit suitable for wide'usage, whereina heater is desirable in a confined spaca such as a range, furnace, orunder other enclosed conditions, and practically any conditions where atleast semi-protection is afiorded that will prevent the undesirabledissipation 'of heat produced, and concentrate same for the desiredresame may be operated and controlled Without interruption or beingwithdrawn from a position, for instance, within a range.

A further object is to provide a heating unit which maybe arranged withlittle change in operation to occupy chambers of various shapes,

cally.

the form shown being relatively wide and deep,

but of comparatively little height, and especially adapted for use withthe portable range disclosed in my application Serial No. 384,961, filedMarch A further object is to provide a heatingunit time the heater maybe extinguished and again used without recharging at will or throughoutits capacity. a

A further object is to provide a fire unit especially adapted for Armyuse in the standard Army portable range, wherein it may be arranged atdifferent elevations within the range or in a case or any form ofsupportingmeans for receptacles such as what are known as G. I. cans inheating large quantities of water for mess kit'washing and rinsing;

that may be charged and adjusted in place for operation and that willhave a capacity sufficient of gasoline is required.

A further object is to provide means whereby treated gasoline may beused by first filtering prior to burning said fuel.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of thisinvention in detail proceeds by reference to the accompanying drawingswherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the improved fire unit.

Fig. 2 is a front viewof the fire unit.

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken centrally throughthe fire unit.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the frontpart of the fire unit with the instrument panel swung down on itshinges.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the controlelements and tanks diagrammati- Fig. 7 is a detailed elevation of theconnection between the loop and the mixing chamber.

There is shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, but it will be understood that it is not desired to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed; it is the intention to coverall modifications and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

As shown, the fire unit provides means for producing instantaneously ablue flame in starting,

even in cold weather. Any grade of gasoline may be used, preferably of arating not over 92 octane. When kept clean and handled properly the unitdescribed will operate without fumes or odors and no gasoline taste willbeimparted to the food should it be used, as contemplated, under certainconditions in a range.

The fire unit here described is a high pressure hot generator type offluid burning unit equipped with a filter to clean the fuel when treatedgasoline or other like fuel is used, but any type of straightgasoline orother volatile fuel may be used that does or does not require filtering.

It may be stated in this connection that if leaded gasoline, which isthe type used in the present 1 Army trucks, can be used in the fireunit, it will avoid the very objectionable confusion resulting,especially in the Army, when morethan one type Treated gasoline, afteritIreaches a certain temperature, throws off a solid sediment, and whileleaded or high test' gasoline is preferable in truck motors, it isinclined to clog up a gasolineburner due to said discharge of foreignmatter When vaporized by heat. Successful filtering means for gasolineis extremely desirable for gasoline burning devices, other than motors,and has been sought after since the treatment of gasoline has beenpracticed. While a preferred form of a filtering attachment isillustrated and described in this application, it does not, however,form a necessary part for the successful operation of the fire unitforming th subject. matter of this application for the reason that thepresent fire unit may be operated with certain types of fluid fuelwithout filtration, and also for the further reason that the filteringmechanism here shown or its equivalent may form a part of heating unitsdifferent from the one here shown and therefore is covered by a separateapplication, Serial Number 390,122,. filed. April 24, 1941.

The fire unit consists of a base frame I, longitudinal supportingmembersl, nd burner supporting cross member 3. aproximately across thelength of the supporting members 2. Hinged to the front edge of the baseframe. at 4 is an instrument panel 5. A. generator support 6 is mountedon the longitudinal. members 2 near theirrear ends, and: is providedwith. a lifting'loop' l at its upper end. An extension 8 at the top ofthe instrument panel is provided with an openin 9, providing at its.top-a. cross member In forming a forward lifting handle which, with thelifting. loop I: at the. rear end. of'the unit; facilitates the handlingof the unit in convenient manner without injury to. the operator" whenthe burner proper is at a high temperature.

Along the side edges of the frame, tanks H and i2 are mountedinitankcradles I3 and I4, tank II being the air tank,. and I2 the gasoline orother fluid: fuel tank. Outer and, inner tankretaining strap members I5and I6 are mounted at their lower ends on the frame I and the bracemembers 2, respectively, in. line with the-tank cradles I3 and: I4; Saidstrap members are provided with outer and inner shield supports l1 andI8 and are drawn together at the top of. the tanks by bolts H], the nutbeing: held in place by lock lugto firmly secure the: tanks in thecradles with no possibility of accidental displacement during thevibration of transportation. Shields 2! are mounted on the supports Hand I8. and cover the portions of the tanks that are exposed to thegreatest direct heat from the. burner.

From the foregoing, it wdll beseen that an: air tank. I l isarranged onone side of the unit and a fuel tank on the opposite. side. usuallysupplied with about 40 pounds pressure of. air produced veryconveniently by an; ordinary bicycle pump which is coupled to the outerend of air input valve. 22 at 23. The filler tube 24 as shown inFigure-6- serves the dual purpose of providing a passage for the air anda cut-off valve when the pressure in the tank has reached the desireddegree, said cut-oil" being accomplished by rotating the member 24inwardly and seating the inner end 2.5v of said member in the outer endof a passage 26- of the valve. Extending from thebod'y of the. airinputvalveis. a check valve. extension. 21 in. which. is slidablymounted a check valve 28 adaptedto. automatically prevent escape of airfrom thetank during the-pumping operation. To the: upper end of thecheck valve extension. 21: is coupled tubing leading to the severalparts referred to later. When the pumping; process has. beencompleted,the filler The: heater is air input valve.

tube 24 is seated with its tip closing the passage 26- and the pump maybe disconnected.

By reference, more particularly, to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will be seenthat the air input valve 22 is mounted in the instrument panel 5 andextends forwardly of the same to permit attachment of the pump at 23 andoperation of the stem 24 by wings 30' in front of the. panel. withoutdisturbing any other parts of the unit during operation. The airmanifold, as indicated at 3! in Fig. 3, is in communication with the airinput valve at 32, and is also connected with an air pressure gauge 33at 34, said air pressure gauge being mounted in the instrument panel andconnected with. the. air manifold in a, manner similar to the 'The airpressure tube is connected beyond the gauge with the fuel filler tube 35of the fuel tank I2 and thus provides in the fuel tank a pressurecorresponding to that shown on the gauge and in the air tank. It will beseen that the connection with the manifold of the input. valve 2-2 at;32 is. a. tum-way connection, one leading,.as above described, to thegauge and the fuel tank; the; other leading to the air tank ll throughair output elbow 36., said output elbow functioning.- during the pumpingprocess as an air input elbow. The an output elbow is provided withatube 3-1 extending to the: lower portion of the. tank. The air tube ormanifold. 3| is also connected at 3.81 to the air control valve 39, saidvalve 39 being removably mounted in the instrument. panel and securedtherein by threaded pin 40 in a similar manner to air input valve 22Thevalve is provided with a valve stem 4| and usual packing gland 42,said stem being adapted to be operated by control knob 43 which may beof a color different. from the control knobs of the other-valves mountedinthe. instrument panel,

namely. the gasoline knob, as shown at A, being red, the flame controlvalve, as shown at B, black, andv the air control knob, as shown at C,being green.

The fuel control valve 44 is similar in construction to the. aircontrolvalve39- and. is mounted in a similar manner in the instrumentpanel. Said fuel control valvev 44 communicates through connection 45,tubular member 46 and connection 41 with. the. generator tube: 5

The. fuel control: valve: 44 also communicates through. connection 48and. tubular member 49 with fuel outlet elbow 50 through connection 5!.The elbow 50- is mounted in the top of the fuel tank I2 and has mountedtherein a pickup tube carrying an automatic. fuel cut-off comprising acheck valve 53 mounted. for vertical movement inthe elbow. The weight ofthe tube. and check valve keeps the. valve open when the flow isrestricted. by the valve B, but if a break in the line occurs, the.increased flow closes the valve, preventing excessive loss of fuel anddiminishing thev danger from fire.

Asabove. described, pressure is applied through input valve 22' by pump,said, input valve providing: air pressure in two: directions, to the airpressure. tank. It and through the air control val-vetothe generatortube when required. The pressure is also directed by way of the fillertube to the fuel tank 12 above the level of the fuel, the air pressuregage 33 being connected to the filler tube 3| at 34. The air pressurelifts the contents of the fuel tank: through the fuel control. valve tothe generator as needed.

The generator. tube 54 is mounted in the generator support andisprovided at its rear end with a closure plug 55. Fuel is admitted. tothe instrument panel.

trol valve, whereupon the. control. panel may be swung into ahorizontalposition, as referred to above, it being understood that the rod 92 willfirst be disconnected from the burner by rotating the burner an abnormaldistance to facilitate the release of the rod from lug 94. If necessarythe rod can be withdrawn through. the opening in the instrument panel.

Should it be desired to remove the control elements from the panel forany reason, such as for cleaning or replacement purposes, there havebeen provided on the inner face of the instrument panel integral bossesH4 provided with openings through which the body portions of the controlvalves 39, 44, the input valve 22, and the gauge connection are snuglyfitted, said bosses being provided with lock screws H5, adapted to clampsaid members firmly against rotary or longitudinal movement in theinstrument panel.

The hot vapor valve, as described above, is clamped in place by yoke 19and clamp screw 82 and may be released and removed through the front ofthe instrument panel. The input valve, the connection with theairpressure gauge, the air. control valve, and the gasoline control valve,can be readily removed from the instrument panel by uncoupling theirconnections with the tubular members, removing the split pins securingthe knobs A and C, withdrawing filler tube 2-4 rrom the air input valveand the air gauge from positions on their respective parts and backingoff the lock screws H5 in the bosses H4, which will release the bodyportion of the input valve, the air gauge elbow H6, the air controlvalve 39 and the gasoline control valve, permitting. withdrawal of theparts referred to inwardly through the instrument panel.

The damper I00 is mounted for rotary movement on the body of the hotvapor valve between a shoulder and, the face of the instrument panel andis provided with a notch for the passage of extension I05, which permitsthe separation of the damper member from the body of the hot vapor valvewhen the valve is removed from the instrument panel. The damper isprovided on its rear face with a friction leaf spring adapted to contactwith. the front face of the instrument panel and maintain the damper inany of its ad justed positions against accidental movement duringtransit.

In line with openin 9 in the instrument panel, as. shown inFigs. l, 3and 4, and resting at an incline on the top of the depressed portion ofthe instrument panel is a mirror I20 in which an operator mayconveniently observe the condition of the flame of the burner.

The preparation for and operation of the fire unitare as follows: Theconnections, including all of those in. the air and fuel systems, thegenerator and hot vapor tubes, and the filter, should be tight toprevent leakage under pressure of from 40 to 60 pounds. Close all valvesin the Remove captive fuel filler tube cap I30 secured against loss byflexible connection I31, fill fuel tank I2 and recap firmly againstleakage under pressure. Attach a pump, usually the ordinary bicycle'foot pump, at 23 to the air input valve mounted in the instrument paneland pump the air system and the air tank HI up. teat least 40 poundspressure, seat input valve stem and remove pump. The air pressure lineis in communication with air control valve 559. and the air flow togenerator tube 54 is controlled. thereby; said air pressure will beindicated on the air pressure gauge and is in communication with andoccupiesthe. upper portion of fuel tank l2 to force fuel frompsai'd tankthrough fuel line outlet elbow and its connection at 48 with fuelcontrol valve44through which the flow of fuel is controlled to thegenerator tube 54.

To start the operation of the fire unit, pull. the burner control rod 92forward until two arms of the burner l-ie beneath the generator tube andhot vapor tube, 54 and H, respectively. Open the air valve 39' one-halfturn. Fully open air damper I00. Open the fuel valve 44 one-half turn.Open the hot vapor' valve 15 one-half turn. The combustible mixture ofgasoline and air will pass through the generator tube, through thefilter, from thence through hot vapor tube H, down through extension 13,through hot vapor valve I5 into mixing chamber 18, and up through theburner. Said mixture is combustible and by applying a lighter above onearm of the burner and by the adjustment of the air valve, a flame of aclear green color will form above the burner slits.

As the generator: becomes heated, less air will be required to keep theflame green. When the air valve can be closed without causing the flameto become yellow the generator is hot, which, if properly controlled,will require about two minutes time. Leave the parts with the burnerarms beneath the generator tube and hot vapor tube for about two moreminutes after the air valve is closed, then push the burner control rodin as far as it will go, thus bringing the burner, as shown in Fig. l,with its arms out of alignment with the tubes 54 and H, somewhatdiminishing the intensity of the heat that would otherwise reach saidtubes when the burner is operating at maximum temperature. Any gasolinethat may collect in the lower portion of the mixing chamber during thelighting of the burner will evaporate and be dissipated through theburner in a few minutes.

After the parts abovereferred to are thoroughly heated, the color of theflame will change from green to blue, which is maintained by theadjustment of the. air damper. By observing the flame at the burner inthe mirror mounted on the upper surface of the instrument panel, thecolor of the flame can be seen and can be controlled by the air damperto maintain the flame green in color; too much air through the damperwill cause the flame to turn blue and the top of the burner become redhot. Adjustment of the hot vapor valve controls the size of the flameand intensity of heat developed.

The filter, as shown, may be used to permit the burning of treatedgasoline with a minimum of accumulation of dirt and lead particles atthe jet of the hot vapor valve and in the burner slits. Frequentobservation should be made to maintain a green flame for the productionof a maximum amount of heat and to keep the burner and generator membersat a high temperature and avoid the passage of. fuel improperly preparedfor perfect combustion prior to reaching the burner. The flame may becut off by closing the fuel valve.

Should it be necessary to refill the fuel tank,

care should be taken that the flame is extinguished and none of theparts of the burner are red hot.

Provision is made to cut off the flow of fuel should a break occur inthe fuel line which consists of a vertically movable check valve mountedin the fuel output elbow and having flattened sides for the passage ofthe normal flow of fuel.

Said check, under the influence of an abnormal flow of fuel, will belifted and seated in the valve at its upper end and cut off the flow offuel.

In using leaded or otherwise treated gasoline in the fire unit, it hasbeen found that the small passages in the flame valve and burner slitshave become clogged, and it was necessary to provide means for relievingsaid trouble. Therefore, a filter was added. Said filter is located insuch position as will provide for the passage of the fuel throughthefilter after it has reached a certain temperature, for the reasonthat the treated fuel, after it reaches a certain temperature, throwsoff the foreign matter in flakes or particles that are suspended in thefuel, and it is after the separation above referred to that thefiltering process takes place, leaving in the filter the suspendedforeign matter. The fuel proceeds thereafter through the hot vapor tubeto the hot vapor valve and burner as a vaporized straight or whitegasoline and air mixture. v

Having thus described my;invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid fuel burner comprising a frame, an air pressure tank and aliquid fuel, tank mounted on the frame in spaced relation, a fuel mixingchamber arranged between said tanks, a burner having opposed radial armsmounted for rotary movement on the mixing chamber, generator and vaportubes arranged above and across th burner and adapted to receive heatfrom the burner for generating vapor, the tubes normally lying betweenthe arms of the burner, and means for retating said burner to bring twoopposed arms under the generator and vapor tubes during the on saidvalve for controlling said openings, means connecting said fuel tank tosaid mixing chamher by way of said generator and vapor valve, meansconnecting said air pressure tank to said fuel tank and also to saidgenerator, and means controlling the flow of air to said generator,whereby the mixing chamber can be supplied with compressed air throughthe generator during starting.

3. A portable vapor fuel burning unit comprising a frame, an instrumentpanel hinged at its lower edge to the front of the frame, and an airpressure tank, a liquid fuel tank,- a burner and a vapor generator and,mixing chamber, all mounted on said frame, said mixing chamber having anextension secured to said panel and providing an air' intakecommunicating with openings in said panel, said panel having controlelements for the air and fuel mounted thereon,

said elements and said mixing chamber being detachably connected to saidpanel, whereby the panel can be detached from said parts to be swung onits hinge.

STYLES T. HOWARD.

